Charlotte Hornets season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

Kon Knueppel made 273 3-pointers as a rookie in the 2025-26 season – more than anyone else in the league – and no rookie had ever led the NBA in that category before. He nearly stole Rookie of the Year honors from Cooper Flagg.

Charlotte won 44 games last season, up from 19, in its best season since 2015-2016. Then the front office blew it up.

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The Hornets sent LaMelo Ball to Minnesota for Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round draft pick, three pick swaps and three second-rounders. They moved Miles Bridges to Phoenix for Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, flipped Tre Mann to Cleveland for Dennis Schroder and re-signed Coby White.

Ball has never competed in a playoff game in six seasons in Charlotte, though the team did beat the Miami Heat in the first round of the NBA Play-In Tournament last season. But Hornets president Jeff Peterson said the goal “isn’t to get to the play-in or even the playoffs for one year.”

His goal is build a team with sustained success.

Here’s a breakdown of the Charlotte Hornets’ offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

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CHARLOTTE HORNETS SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

NBA commissioner Adam Silver poses with 2026 draft prospects before the NBA Draft at Barclays Center.

(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

NBA commissioner Adam Silver poses with 2026 draft prospects before the NBA Draft at Barclays Center.

(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with AJ Dybantsa after h is drafted first overall by the Washington Wizards during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City.

(Arturo Holmes, Getty Images)

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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with AJ Dybantsa after he is drafted first overall by the Washington Wizards during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at…

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Publish date : 2026-09-23 09:42:00

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